Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

MILLER,
GEORGE

p. 1449

Surnames: MILLER, REISCH, STOYER, PLACE, FAUST, SCHRACK, FOX,
HOFFMAN

George Miller, who since April, 1908, has made his home in
Maiden-creek, comes of Swiss stock. His great-grandfather,
Christian Miller, came from Switzerland, bring with him his family.
There is record of his three sons, Jacob, George and Henry.

George Miller, son of Christian, was a farmer
and landowner, and was born March 17, 1786. He died on his own farm
Jan. 4, 1872. The handling of tools always afforded him great
enjoyment, and he learned cabinet making, and became a carpenter
and undertaker, making and finishing the coffins for his trade. He
married Elizabeth Reisch, born Sept. 22, 1799, and died April 15,
1867. They had three children: Charles, mentioned below; Samuel,
who married Miss Stoyer, and kept and owned the old Miller hostlery
in Adamstown, Lancaster Co., Pa.; and Mary, who married (first)
Charles Place, and (second) Charles Faust, who survives her and
resides at Blandon.

Charles, Miller, son of George, was born near
Wily’s mill. He, too, became a cabinet maker and undertaker,
following those callings all his active life. He married Maria
Schrack, and they had four children: Josiah, who died unmarried in
Tucson, Ariz.; George; Mary E., who married Owen Fox, of Blandon,
and has had children?Charles L. (deceased). Laura, Robert, Mayme,
Warren, Mabel and Owen; and Charles Jacob who married Adalina
Hoffman, and has had children?Lloyd and Ralph, the latter dying
young.

George Miller was born near Calcium, in
Maiden-creek township, Aug. 20, 1854, and was educated in the
common schools of his district. He makes his home with his sister,
Mrs. Owen Fox. He is prominent in fraternal organizations, being a
member of Lodge No. 1084, I. O. O. F.; the I. O. R. M., of
Fleetwood; Knights of the Mystic Chain, at Fleetwood; and the Sick
and Accident Insurance Company of Philadelphia. He is a member of
the Blandon Lutheran Church. Mr. Miller is unmarried.

MILLER,
GEORGE J.

p. 1527

Surnames: MILLER, MERGET, DERSCH, HOOK, MOHR, BORKERT, GONZ,
WENTZEL, REBER, FABER, SWOYER, BURKHOLDER, EAGLE, KOCH, WONDROUGH

George J. Miller, a well-known resident of Mount Penn borough,
whose substantial brick residence is situated on Twenty-third
street, was born Aug. 14, 1864, in Reading, Pa., son of Joseph H.
and Elizabeth (Merget) Miller.

Joseph H. Miller was born May 29, 1839, at
Honeybrook, Chester county, Pa., and when a young man leaned the
machinist’s trade. In 1885 he went to Chicago, Ill., where he spent
one and a half years, but returned East to become foreman of the
Reading Hardware Works, where he remained seventeen years. This
position he resigned to become connected with the Navy Yard, at
Washington, D. C., where he is now employed. In political matters
Mr. Miller is a Republican. He was married Jan. 9, 1862, to
Elizabeth Merget, born March 30, 1844, who died Nov. 25, 1886, in
Reading, daughter of Jacob and Helena Merget, and to this union
there were born children as follows: Charles A., a machinist of
Reading, who married Amanda Dersch; Wilmer J., who is single and a
moulder of Reading; Mary H., who married A. L. Hook, of Washington,
D. C.; Dorothy, who married W. F. Mohr, of Reading; Alice A., a
dressmaker of South Fifth street, Reading; Rosa, who also lives on
South Fifth street; Katie G., who for six years has been a teacher
in the public schools of Reading; and Elizabeth V., who has been a
teacher for three years.

George J. Miller attended the public schools of
Reading until about fifteen years of age, and then learned his
trade with Miller, Printz & Company, of South Ninth street,
manufacturers of all kinds of machinery, with whom he remained for
a full apprenticeship of five years. Since that time he has
followed the trade as a journeyman. He worked in all for Miller,
Printz & Co., for a period of eight years, and in 1886
connected himself with the Scott Foundry, where he remained one
year. He then entered the employ of the Reading Hardware Company,
but since 1902 he has been working in the tube works of the Reading
Iron Company’s plant. In the spring of 1905 Mr. Miller erected a
substantial residence on Twenty-third street, Mount Penn borough,
and here he has lived since Sept. 26th of that year, previous to
this time having been a resident of the Second ward of Reading. Mr.
and Mrs. Miller are attendants of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church of
Reading. In political matters he is a Republican, while fraternally
he is connected with the P. O. S. of A., No. 417, Birdsboro; the
Reading Hardware Co. Beneficial Association; and Reading Aerie No.
66, F. O. E.

On Oct. 4, 1890, Mr. Miller was married to Annie
E. Borkert, and to them were born two daughters: Edith Violet, and
Alva, the latter of whom died when three years old.

Daniel Borkert, the grandfather of Mrs. Miller,
was born in 1800 in Reading, and died in 1880. He was the son of
Caspar Borkert, the founder of the family, and was a bricklayer by
trade. He married Catherine Gonz, and to them were born twelve
children, as follows: William, born in 1825; Daniel, born in 1829,
died in 1886; Franklin, born in 1832; Mary, born in 1833; Sarah,
born in 1834, died in childhood; Albert, father of Mrs. Miller;
Augustus, born in 1838; Richard, born in 1840; Susan, born in 1843;
Amanda, born in 1845; John, born in 1847; and Thomas, born in 1849,
died in childhood.

Albert Borkert, who has been a lifelong resident
of Reading, Pa., was born in that city Sept. 14, 1835, and was
married in 1858 to Malinda Wentzel, by whom he had twelve children:
Thomas m. Alice Reber and lives in Reading; Sallie m. George Faber,
of Reading; Annie E., Mrs. Miller; Susan, who died in childhood;
Kate m. Harry Swoyer, deceased; Emma, who died in infancy; Maggie
m. Jacob Burkholder, of Philadelphia; Harry, single, at home; Nora
m. Charles Eagle, of Reading; Bessie, m. Howard Koch, a tailor of
Reading; Lillie m. Aloysius Wondrough; and Albert, who died in
childhood.

MILLER,
GEORGE W.

p. 1549

Surnames: MILLER, PEARSON, OTTO, DAVIS, HIPPLE, BOYER

George W. Miller (deceased), for many years a prominent dry goods
merchant in Reading, was a man whose inflexible honesty and strict
adherence to his word make his name a synonym for business
integrity all over Berks county, and his career proved conclusively
that success need not be attained by dishonest and ignoble methods.
Mr. Miller was a native of the city and passed his whole life
there.

Samuel Miller, father of George W., was of Welsh
ancestry. His wife was Harriet Pearson, and they had a family of
three children, George, Hiram and Morris P. In religious belief the
family were Presbyterians, and in politics Mr. Miller was a
Republican.

George W. Miller was reared practically by his
uncle, John Pearson, who was in his day a leading merchant of
Reading. The boy was sent to the public schools and he continued to
attend until he was well along in his teens, thus acquiring a solid
foundation for his future career. On leaving school he entered his
uncle’s store as a clerk and worked for him for quite a number of
years, until he had accumulated sufficient capital to buy out Mr.
Pearson. His sole management of the store lasted up to the time of
his death, an event which occurred June 24, 1882.

Mr. Miller is survived by his widow, Mrs.
Matilda W. (Otto) Miller. She was a daughter of Dr. John B. Otto,
of whom mention is made elsewhere. Their marriage took place Nov.
26, 1850, and they were granted nearly thirty-six years of wedded
happiness before Mr. Miller’s decease. Six children blessed this
union, namely: Mary P., who married Walter S. Davis, and has two
daughters, Esther and Helen; a child that died in infancy; Henry
O., who married Miss Emma Hipple, and is assistant treasurer of the
Colonial Trust Company, Reading; John, deceased; Anna P.; and
George W., who married Mary, daughter of George F. Boyer, and has
one child, Fred. Mr. Miller adhered to the faith of his father,
both in religion and politics. He was a good Mason, and had taken a
number of degrees, belonging not only to Chandler Lodge, No. 227,
F. & A. M., but also to the De-Molay Commandery, No. 9, Knights
Templar.

MILLER,
G. WILSON

p. 1437

Surnames: MILLER, MOYER, SPATZ, TOBIAS, LORAH

G. Wilson Miller, the proprietor of the “Hotel Miller,” located at
the corner of Seventeenth and Cotton streets, Reading, Pa., was
born Sept. 11, 1871, near Trexlertown, Lehigh county, Pa., son of
John and Elizabeth (Moyer) Miller, the former a native of Lehigh
county, and the latter of Reading and a doughtier of the late
Philip Moyer of Berks county.

G. Wilson Miller attended the public schools of
his native county, and later came to Berks county, locating at
Reading, where he completed his education. He commenced working
when but nine years of age, driving a horse and cart at an ore mine
in Lehigh county during the summer months, and after leaving school
he worked for a few months at printing. At the age of eighteen
years he learned the stove moulding trade at the Mt. Penn Stove
Works, Reading, in the employ of which company he continued until
1902, as a journeyman. In September, 1904, Mr. Miller became the
proprietor of the “Hotel Miller,”

which he has conducted to the present time, with
much success. Since coming to Reading from Lehigh county, Mr.
Miller has been a resident of Cotton street, and he is very well
known and exceedingly popular. He is a member of Union Fire Company
No. 13, of Reading, of the Association, and of the Uniform Bank,
and is also identified with Friendship Commandery No. 247, Knight
of Malta. He and his family are members of the Reformed Church.

On April 15, 1893, Mr. Miller was married to
Emma Spatz, and they have these three children: Edna E. and Sarah
S., twins, and Helen M. Mrs. Spatz is a daughter of Jacob and Lydia
(Tobias) Spatz, of Exeter township, and granddaughter of Abraham
and Catherine (Lorah) Spatz, who lived above Jacksonwald, in Exeter
township. There the grandfather died in 1879, aged eighty-four
years less one day. He and his wife had three children, namely:
Sarah, who is single; Ephraim (died in 1908) and Jacob, both of
Exeter township.

The Spatz ancestors were Revolutionary war
patriots and performed noble service for the freedom of their
country. John and DeWatt Spatz, brothers, were both captured by the
British in the Revolutionary war, and family tradition has it that
one of them gave the silver buckles on his shoes for bread, when he
was nearly starving as a prisoner.

MILLER,
HARRY R.

p. 1467

Surnames: MILLER, ZIEGLER, FRITCHIE, KLINE, HUNSBERGER, ROYER,
HIBSHMAN, LONG, CROUSE, KELLER

Harry R. Miller, who is carrying on agricultural operations on a
fine farm situated on the road leading from Mount Aetna to
Freystown, Pa., was born Sept. 20, 1868, at Allentown, Lehigh Co.,
Pa., son of John Edward and Elizabeth (Ziegler) Miller.

John Frederick Miller, the great-grandfather of
Harry R., was born in Herzogthum Saxe- (Saxony) Altenburg, Germany,
where he died aged about seventy-five years, having for many years
served in the office of recorder of that place. His son, Charles
Frederick Miller, was also a native of Saxe-Altenburg, where he was
born May 11, 1805, and where for some time he served in the
capacity of lieutenant of police. In 1856 he emigrated to

America landing at New York, form whence he came
to Pennsylvania, and there he died August 10, 1873, being buried at
Tulpehocken Church. He was married and had a family of fourteen
children, of whom nine died young, the other five being; William,
assistant at courts; Carl, a cigar maker; Marie, who married
Frederick Fritchie, a letter carrier; Richard, a tailor of New York
City; and John Edward. The first three live in Germany.

John Edward Miller, the father of Harry R., was
born Dec. 5, 1843, in Saxe-Altenburg, and came to America with his
father in 1856. He was a soldier in the Civil war, being a member
of Co. B, 98th Reg. P. V. I., and after his term of service expired
he engaged at his trade of cabinet making. For six years he was
lock-tender on the old Union Canal, one mile above Myerstown,
Lebanon county, and he also carried the tri-weekly mail between
Mount Aetna and Wintersville, walking the distance, three miles, on
foot for ten years. He is now living retired at Mount Aetna. Mr.
Miller was married (first) to Elizabeth Ziegler, daughter of Daniel
P. and Mary (Kline) Ziegler, who lived near Ziegler’s Mill, Bethel
township; and to this union were born the following children: (1)
William died young. (2) Harry R. (3) John, a farmer of Limerick
Square, Montgomery county, m. Bertha Hunsberger, and they have two
children,–Leroy and Harry. (4) George, who resides near
MountAetna, across the Berks line in Lebanon county, was reared in
Bethel township by his uncle, Israel Ziegler, and by his first
wife, Jennie Royer, had seven children,–Charles (deceased), Jonas,
Lizzie, Daniel, Jessie, Stella and Esta; and by his second wife,
Maggie Hibshman, of Lincoln, Lancaster county, he has a daughter,
Margaret. (5) Francis died young. (6) Charles died aged eighteen
years. (7) Frank died young. John Edward Miller was married
(second) in 1882 to Lovina Long, but there were no children by this
union.

Harry R. Miller accompanied his parents at an
early age to Berks county and later to Lebanon county, but
subsequently returned to Berks. At the age of seven years he went
to work for his uncle, Jacob Ziegler, with whom he learned the
trade of miller, and at the age of eighteen years he received his
first wages and commenced to shift for himself. He spent three
years on the farm in Montgomery county, but returned to Berks
county, and since his marriage has been living on one of the old
Crouse homesteads, on the rod leading from Mount Aetna to
Freystown. He is a democrat in politics and has been active in his
district, having served as school director for three terms. The
family are embers of the German Baptist Church.

On May 16, 1891, Mr. Miller was married to
Elizabeth Crouse, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Keller) Crouse,
and to them six children have been born: Lydia C., Mary C., Sallie
C., Henry C., Ada C. and Ira C.

MILLER,
HARVEY A.

p. 1020

Surnames: MILLER, TREXLER, HAAS, ROHRBACH

Harvey A. Miller, who is serving his second term as justice of the
peace of the borough of Topton, of which he is also treasurer, is
one of the prominent and useful citizens of his community. He was
born at Topton, Berks Co., PA., June 15, 1868, son of J. H. and
Eliza Ann Miller.

Harvey A. Miller was educated in the Topton
schools and the Keystone State Normal School at Kutztown, Pa.,
where he was graduated in the class of 1884. For five consecutive
terms he followed teaching but later connected himself with
Rohrbach Bros. & Co., in the flour business, and remained
several years, after which he entered into partnership with his
father in the wholesale coal, roofing slate and flagging business
under the firm style of J. H. Miller & Son. This firm is also
general agents for Eastern Pennsylvania for the York State &
Lock Company, and for the last quarter century has supplied some of
the largest banking institutions in the country with vaults. Mr.
Miller is further interested in manufacturing fine, seamless half
hose for a corporation known as the Crown Knitting Company, for
which he acts as superintendent, general manager and secretary.
This is a large industry, and employment is given the year round to
from seventy-five to eighty hands.

On Oct. 24, 1895, Mr. Miller married Jennie C.
Trexler, daughter of Charles D. and Catherine (Haas) Trexler, the
former being a merchant at Topton. They have two daughters, namely:
Marie, born March 12, 1898; and Mae, born May 12, 1903. Mrs. Miller
is a member of the Lutheran Church, and Mr. Miller of the Reformed
Church. He has been very active in church and Sunday-school work,
and has been superintendent of the school.

In politics Mr. Miller is a Democrat, and exerts
considerable influence in party matters in this section. He is
frequently sent as a delegate to conventions and made a member of
important committees. In addition to the offices named, he has
served as deputy coroner for several years.

MILLER, HENRY GRANT

p.
1325

Surnames: MILLER, RAUCH, HUNSICKER

Henry Grant Miller, a victim of the ill fated Shriners excursion,
wrecked May 11, 1907, at Honda, Cal., and formerly a well known
business man of Reading, member of the firm of J. B. Miller &
Sons, then the largest wholesale grocery house in Berks county, was
born Dec. 12, 1867, at Bernville, this county, son of J. B. Miller.

His funeral, which was held at his late
residence, No. 1396 Perkiomen avenue, Reading, May 22, 1907, was
largely attended by those who knew him as a good citizen, kind
neighbor and loyal friend. The beautiful floral tributes that half
filled one of the rooms were a mute testimonial of the high regard
in which he was held. Forty members of Hermit Commandery, Knights
Templar, of Lebanon, with large delegations from De Molay and
Reading Commanderies, were present. Rev. Dr. E. T. Horn, of Trinity
Lutheran Church conducted the services at the house, and interment
was made in the Charles Evans cemetery.

Mr. Miller had been given a thorough business
education, after which he began working in his father’s large
general store at Bernville, where he remained until 1889. He then
became a partner in the firm of J. B. Miller & Sons, at
Lebanon. Pa., conducting an extensive business in dry goods and
groceries at Ninth and Railroad streets of that city. Here they
continued until 1900, when the late firm of J. B. Miller & Sons
was established with warehouse and offices at Nos. 41-43 South
Seventh street, Reading, and of this firm Mr. Miller was a partner.
The members were all men of business ability and standing in the
community, and the house commanded the trade of not only Berks, but
the surrounding counties as well. Since the death of Mr. Henry G.
Miller, the surviving partners have sold out their interests.

Mr. Miller was prominently identified with the
Masonic fraternity, being a member of Mount Lebanon Lodge, No. 226;
Weidele Chapter, Lebanon, No. 197; Lebanon Council. No. 27; Hermit
Commandery, No. 24; Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Reading; of
the Reading Lodge of Perfection (charter member), and Harrisburg
Consistory, S. P. R. S., thirty-second degree. He was a past
officer of merit of the first four mentioned divisions. He also
belonged to the B. P O. E., No. 115, Reading, and the Sons of
Veterans of Lebanon, Pa. Mr. Miller was an archaeologist, and was
the owner of a fine collection of old dishes and china ware, as
well as of rare coins and paper money. He possessed a full
genealogical record of the Miller, Dewees, Dundore and Rauch
families, and took an active interest in the Pennsylvania German
Society.

On Feb. 28, 1895, Mr. Miller was united in
marriage with Katherine May Rauch, the accomplished daughter of
John B. and Sarah (Hunsicker) Rauch, of Lebanon. Pa., and to this
union there have been born four children: Helen, born July 12,
1896, died July 8, 1899; Albert Rauch, born Dec. 31, 1899;
Frederick Dundore, April 28, 1902; and Virginia Dorothy, Oct. 12,
1904.